Sri Lankan security forces suspect a 46-year-old man acted as a handler for four Sri Lankan nationals arrested at Ahmedabad airport in India last week for alleged links with the banned Islamic State (ISIS). According to a media report, the suspect, identified as Osmand Gerrard, is a resident of Dematagoda who frequently changes his appearance. Gerrard is believed to have facilitated the movement of the four men from Sri Lanka to India.
Sri Lanka Police have announced a reward of Rs. 2 million for information leading to Gerrard’s whereabouts. Information exchange between Sri Lanka and India has begun, involving the Sri Lanka Army Intelligence Division and the Police Terrorist Investigations Division.
On May 19, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested the four Sri Lankans at the Sardar Vallabhai Patel airport in Ahmedabad. The ATS seized three pistols, cartridges, and a mobile phone from their possession. The arrested men had flown from Colombo to Chennai on an Indigo flight.
Among the arrested is Mohammed Nusrat, a businessman importing telecommunication and electrical equipment from countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Dubai. Nusrat operated in Colombo, selling these goods.
Mohammad Nafran, another arrested suspect, is the son of Niyas Naufer, a notorious criminal sentenced to death for the killing of High Court Judge Sarath Ambepitiya. The other two men are Mohammad Faris, a cart puller from Maligawatte, Colombo, and Mohammad Rashdeen, a three-wheeler driver suspected of trafficking crystal meth.
The arrests and ongoing investigations highlight the collaborative efforts of Sri Lankan and Indian authorities in combating terrorism and ensuring regional security.
